Flyjng target



(No Model.)

I. H. CLAGGETT.

FLYING TARGET.

No. 462,691. Patented Nov. 10, 1891.

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UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC HIRAM OLAGGETT, OF MONTEYIDEO, MINNESOTA.

FLYING TARG ET.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,691, datedNovember 10, 1891.

Application led April Z 8 18 90.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC HIRAM CLAGGETT, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Montevideo, in the county of Chippewa and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FlyingTargets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of targets which are adapted to bethrown from a trap, and which drop as soon as struck by a shot, ball, orother missile, and which do not break, but remain to be used again andagain; and the invention consists, more specifically, in theconstruction whereby the flight is inlproved and the target caused topresent a gradually -increasing surface toward the marksman as thedistance of the flight increases, as hereinafter shown and described,and specifically pointed out in the claims.

ln the drawings, Figure l is a plan view from the outer or convex side,and Fig. 2 is a view from the under or concave side, and Fig. 3 is asectional view with the wing in place therein. Fig. 4 is a side Viewwith the wing removed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detailillustrating the manner in which the aircurrents operate upon thetarget. Figs. G and 7 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 3, illustratingthe manner of constructing the target from breakable material, and Figs.8 and 0 are similar views illustrating another forml of breakableconstruction. Fig. l0 is a reduced detail illustrating the positions ofthe target during different points in its flight.

A is the iiat coneshaped target, usually made of sheet metal, compressedpaper, wood pulp, or other suitable non-breakable material, but whichmay be made of fragile material adapted to be broken when struck by theshot or ball, if required. Two of the novel features of thisconstruction consist in forining the cone-shaped target with an upturnededge a and with an opening b through its top, as shown. v

Inserted into the interior of the target A, just below the opening l),is a plate B, the plate not quite filling the interior of the target,but with spaces between its rim and the body of the target, at d. Vhenthe targetAis made of sheet metal or other non-breakable material theplate B will be of a triangular dish- Serial No. 349.819. (No model.)

shaped form, as in Figs. l, 2, 3, et, and 5, with a slot e out in oneside, from one edge to its center, so that it possesses the qualities ofa spring, the expansion of which holds it in place Within the target. Inthis construction the target will be formed with an annulardepression-ring g, in which the points c2 of the plate B are held by theexpansive force of the plate, but which are easily detachable therefromwhen the target is subjected to the impact of a shot or ball. The plateB when thus arranged will be attached to the target by a chain 7L or byring, so that when detached from the depression g it will remainconnected to the target.

Vhen formed of bre-akable4 material the plate B will be either securedlightly to the target bycement, as in Figs. 6 and 7, or formed in onepiece therewith, as in Figs. S and 9. ln this construction the platewill be attached to the target only at intervals, so as to leave theair-spaces d between it and the body of the target.

These targets are thrown from traps in the ordinary manner, and whenthrown the upturned edge ct, acted upon bythe air through which it isflying, imparts to it a steadiness of motion not attainable by a pointedform of the edge.

Another important feature of this invention is the result produced byforming the target with the openingb through its top and securing theplate B in the target beneath this opening,with the air-spaces d betweenit and the body of the target. Vhen a target thus constructed is thrown,the air, passing through the opening b, iinpinges against the plate B,and a portion of it escaping through the spaces d and causing the targetto gradually turn with its opening h, assuming an increasinglyperpendicular position and presenting a larger surface toward themarksman as the target recedes from him. Another peculiar action of thetarget produced by this construction is that when it nears the lend ofits flight, instead of gradually falling to the ground in a long curvedline, it drops at a comparatively short angle, as indicated by thedotted line in Fig. lO,which is a diagram representing the night of thetarget and its angle at different points.

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Having thus described my invention,\vi1at I assured, substantially asand for the purpose eiaim'as new isset forth.

Aeup-shaped o1' conical target having :L rim In testimony whereof I havehereunto seb my a, Wit-h a broad surface and with opening b hand in thepresence of two subscribing Wit- 5 through its upper part, a plate Bwithin said nesses.

conical target beneath said opening, and with spaces d between it andthe interior of said ISAAC HTRAM CLAGGETF' target, whereby in its flightits angle of in- Witnessesr elination is increased as it reeedes fromthe C. N. VVOODWARD, 1o marksman and the steadiness of the Hight S. C.BROWN.

